Artificial limb.



TIM. LAWRBNGE.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1910.

' Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

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ii TE s'rns THEODORE 1VL LAWRENCE, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF FORTY-NINE ONE-HUNDREDTI-IS TO GEORGE H. MoDANNEL, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

Specification of Letters Patent. v Patented N 15 1910.

Application filed May 31, 1910. Serial No. 564,305.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE M. LAW- RENOE, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Limbs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to artificial limbs, having more particular reference to the ankle sections thereof, and has, for its primary object to provide an improved construction which permits of the foot section having a comparatively natural rocking action in forward, rearward and lateral directions.

With the above and other objects in view, to be referred to as the description progresses, my invention resides in the features of construction, arrangements and combina tions of parts hereinafter described and succinctly defined in my annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of an artificial foot and ankle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of my ankle block.

Reference numeral 1 indicates the shell of my improved ankle which is composed of tough resilient material, as rubber or a composition thereof, the same receiving the lower end portion of leg section 2 and the rear end portion of body portion 3 which body portion is formed of a relatively hard material, as wood, and forms a portion of the sole and instep of the foot section. Body portion 3 has in integral rearwardly projecting horizontal extension 4 extending beneath the lower end of leg section 2 and bearing on the inner face of a heel 8", provided by suitably forming the lower wall of said shell.

Reference numeral 5 indicates an ankle block, which in conjunction with a connecting rod 10 forms the ankle joint, connecting the foot section for both lateral and forward and rearward rocking. Ankle block 5, which is preferably of aluminum, is provided on its lower face with a depending longitudinally disposed journal part 6 rotatably seated for lateral rocking in a bearing 7 formed in the upper face ofextension 1, and provided in its upper face with a transversely disposed seat 8 rotatably receiving a journal part 9 fixed to the lower end of leg section 2.

Connecting rod 10 comprises an intermediate section 10 of angular cross sectional formation, normally arranged in a correspondingly formed opening 11 of ankle block 5, and thereby tending to hold the same from twisting, and pivoted end sections 10 one of which extends upwardly into leg section 2 and the other through extension 4:, where they are provided on their free end portions with securing nuts 12, as shown. In the presentembodiment of my invention, intermediate section 10 has bifurcated end portions, in which the adjacent end portions of end sections 10 are received and pivoted by pins 13, the respective joints thus rovided being on opposite sides of ankle lock 5 with the pins 13 disposed longitudinally of the adjacent ournal parts and concentrically to the bearing surfaces thereof.

Bearing 7 which is preferably provided witha suitable bushing, as shown, is in the form of a groove extending longitudinally of extension 4 and terminates at the base of the rear wall of body portion 3 in an enlarged depression, receiving the enlargement 6 of journal part 6 and thereby preventing endwise movement of the latter.

Journal part 9 is in the form of an extension of leg section 2, provided by suitably reducing the lower end portion thereof and providing the same with a wear plate 9 as shown. Rearwardly of ournal part 9, I provide leg section 2 with a cushion 1 1, in the form of a block of rubber, which durin longitudinal rocking of the foot section, wil engage ankle block 5, and thereby obviate clicking.

To bring the edge portions of shell 1 flush with body portion 3 and leg section 2 and form joints which exclude foreign substances, I form the two last named parts with external seats 15 in which the adjacent edge portions of the shell are received and preferably cemented. v

Reference numeral 16 indicates the heel cord consisting of a rod seated in and secured, by a pin 17, to the rear end portion of extension 4-, and extending upwardly through an opening 18, in which it is free to slide during forward and rearward rocking movement of the foot section, into the leg section 2 where it is provided with a stop 19, conslsting of a nut, as shown, to limit movement of the heel cord in a downwarddirection, as will be readily understood.

A toe section of felt or other suitable material is secured to the forward end of body portion 3 in any suitable manner, a convenient way however, consists in employing a screw 21, directed in said body portion 3 from theunderside of the toe section, in conjunction with one or more pins 22 supported in the toe section and having projecting rear end portions adapted to be received in sockets provided therefor in the body ortion.

Referencenumeral 23 indicates an oil duct extending from'the outer face of leg section 2 to rod 10 in proximity to the upper joint thereof, through which oil can be fed to the several joint members.

By the; construction of my improved ankle joint, tighteningof both joints thereof can be readily effected by properly adjusting the upper nut 12.

a Having thus described my invention what I claimas new, and desire to secure'by Letters Patent of the United'States of America,

1. An artificial limb comprising aleg section, a foot section, and an ankle joint between said leg and foot sections comprising an ankle block provided on its under side with a. journal part rotatably seated on said foot section and formed in its upper face with a bearing extending at right angles to said journal part, a journal part on the lower end of said leg section engaging in the bearing of said ankle'block, and means for securing said foot section and ankle block to said leg section.

2. An artificial limb comprising a leg section, a foot section, an ankle block provided with. a depending journal part rotatably seated .on said foot section and formed in beneath said leg section and formed with a longitudinal bearing, an'ankle block having a depending journal part engaged in the bearing of said extension, and a joint between said ankle block and said leg section permitting of rocking of said foot section in forward and rearward directions.

4. An artificial limb comprising a leg section, a foot section including a body portion having an extension projecting rearwardly beneath said leg section and formed with a longitudinal bearing, an ankleblock having a depending journal part engaged in the bearing of said extension, said ankle block being formed'in its upper face with a bear ing extending at right angles to said journal part, a journal part on said leg section engaged in the bearing of said ankle block,

and an articulated rod.extending through secured to said foot section and the other extending upwardly into said leg section and being provided on its upper end with a securing means.

6. An. artificial limb comprising a leg section, a foot section including a shell'of resilient material receiving the lower end portion of said leg section, atransversely disposed journalpart on the lower end of said leg section, an ankle block rotatably engaged on said foot section for lateral rocking and provided inits upper portion with a transverse bearing receiving said journal part,

and means securing said ankle block to said leg and foot sections.

Signed at Seattle, lVashington this 17th day of May 1910.

, THEODORE M. LAWVRENCE. Witnesses:

A. A. BOOTH, FRANK E. ADAMS. 

